Patents by Inventor Makoto Sasaoka

Makoto Sasaoka has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7647555
    Abstract: Recorded video is accessed from printed notes or summaries derived from the video. Summaries may be created automatically by analyzing the recorded video, and annotations are made by a user on a device for note-taking with digital ink and video. The notes and/or summaries are printed along with data glyphs that provide time based indexes or offsets into the recorded video. The indexes or offsets are retrieved by scanning the glyph on the printout. The glyph information can be embedded in the printouts in many ways. One method is to associate block glyphs with annotations or images on the printed pages. Another method is to provide an address carpet in an annotated timeline. Yet another method is to provide a two-dimensional address carpet with X-Y position mapped to time which can be used to provide selected access to the video. The accessed video may be played back on the note-taking device on a pen computer, or on a summary interface on a Web browser-type device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignees: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Lynn D. Wilcox, Patrick Chiu, Makoto Sasaoka, Jun Miyazaki, David L. Hecht, L. Noah Flores
  • Patent number: 6800801
    Abstract: There is disclosed a photovoltaic power generating structure in which a solar cell module is arranged on a base member, wherein a closed space portion cut off from the air is provided between the base member and the solar cell module. Thus, there can be provided a photovoltaic power generating structure which can be easily constructed at a low installation cost, can maintain a good output as a photovoltaic power generating system, is excellent in environmental resistance, and can improve fireproofness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Sasaoka, Yuji Inoue, Satoru Shiomi, Hidehisa Makita
  • Patent number: 6730840
    Abstract: A concentrating photovoltaic module comprising: a lightguide member having at least one exit face and a plurality of entrance faces; and at least one solar cell placed immediately after the exit face of the lightguide member; wherein the lightguide member is comprised of a light transmissive, solid medium having no refractive-index-discontinuity portion and a surface of the lightguide member is smooth and wherein the lightguide member makes sunbeams incident on the plurality of entrance faces, totally reflected on side faces, and emergent from the exit face, whereby the sunbeams can be concentrated on the solar cell with high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Sasaoka, Tatsuo Fujisaki
  • Patent number: 6696641
    Abstract: A terminal box is provided for covering an exposed electrode portion of a photovoltaic element. A part or all of each side of the terminal box includes an inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Sasaoka
  • Patent number: 6576830
    Abstract: In a solar cell roof structure, a photovoltaic power generating apparatus, a building and a method of construction of a solar cell roof, in which a solar cell module is provided above a roof base of a building, an electrical wire for the solar cell module is provided in a space between the solar cell module and the roof base, and the electrical wire extends into a space at the back of the roof base through a through hole provided in the roof base. A base sealing member on the roof base is provided for covering the through hole and an exit is provided in the base sealing member through which the electrical wire extends into the space between the solar cell module and the roof base at a portion of the base sealing member other than a portion just over the through hole of the base sealing member. The base sealing member can include a heat-resisting or fire resistive material on the roof base for covering the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Nagao, Toshihiko Mimura, Masahiro Mori, Yuji Inoue, Satoru Shiomi, Ayako Komori, Makoto Sasaoka, Hidehisa Makita, Shigenori Itoyama
  • Patent number: 6525262
    Abstract: This invention provides a solar cell module array comprised of two or more different types of modules, wherein said two or more different types of modules are rectangular, having different lengths and method for installing solar cell modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidehisa Makita, Yuji Inoue, Satoru Shiomi, Makoto Sasaoka
  • Publication number: 20020148497
    Abstract: A concentrating photovoltaic module comprising: a lightguide member having at least one exit face and a plurality of entrance faces; and at least one solar cell placed immediately after the exit face of the lightguide member; wherein the lightguide member is comprised of a light transmissive, solid medium having no refractive-index-discontinuity portion and a surface of the lightguide member is smooth and wherein the lightguide member makes sunbeams incident on the plurality of entrance faces, totally reflected on side faces, and emergent from the exit face, whereby the sunbeams can be concentrated on the solar cell with high efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Makoto Sasaoka, Tatsuo Fujisaki
  • Patent number: 6462265
    Abstract: A terminal lead-out structure of a highly reliable solar cell module having a good operativity comprises a hollow structure for the insulating protection of an electrode lead-out portion of the solar cell module. The hollow structure is provided with an extrusion at least on a part of the surface thereof to face the solar cell module. The hollow structure is bonded to the solar cell module by the application of an adhesive agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Sasaoka, Kimitoshi Fukae, Masahiro Mori, Yuji Inoue, Fumitaka Toyomura
  • Publication number: 20020134421
    Abstract: In a solar cell roof structure, a photovoltaic power generating apparatus, a building and a method of construction of a solar cell roof, in which a solar cell module is provided above a roof base of a building, an electrical wire for the solar cell module is provided in a space between the solar cell module and the roof base, and the electrical wire extends into a space at the back of the roof base through a through hole provided in the roof base, by providing a base sealing member on the roof base, for covering the through hole and further providing an exit in the base sealing member through which the electrical wire extends into the space between the solar cell module and the roof base at a portion of the base sealing member other than a portion just over the through hole of the base sealing member, or providing a base sealing member comprised of a heat-resisting or fire resistive material on the roof base, for covering the through hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: YOSHITAKA NAGAO, TOSHIHIKO MIMURA, MASAHIRO MORI, YUJI INOUE, SATORU SHIOMI, AYAKO KOMORI, MAKOTO SASAOKA, HIDEHISA MAKITA, SHIGENORI ITOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20020116928
    Abstract: A solar power generation system comprising a solar module and a sun-chasing mechanism for driving and controlling said solar module based on said output from said solar module, said sun-chasing mechanism having a drive means, a drive-controlling means, and a clock means, wherein said sun-chasing mechanism behaves to perform sun-chasing of said solar module such that the solar module is driven by a first sun-chasing mode when sun shines; when the output value from the solar module becomes to be below a fist prescribed value, the first sun-chasing mode is switched to a second sun-chasing mode based on said output value from the solar module and an output value from said clock means, and the solar module is driven by said second sun-chasing mode; and when the output from the solar module becomes to be above a second prescribed value, the second sun-chasing mode is switched to the fist sun-chasing mode and the solar module is driven by the fist sun-chasing mode; and wherein the sun-chasing mechanism behaves such
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Tatsuo Fujisaki, Satoru Shiomi, Makoto Sasaoka, Hidehisa Makita, Shigenori Itoyama
  • Patent number: 6437235
    Abstract: A solar cell module has an outermost surface comprising a surface member on the light receiving face side of the solar cell module, a back face comprising a back face member on the non-light receiving face side of the solar cell module, and a photovoltaic element between the surface member and the back face member. The solar cell module is characterized in that it has a porous incombustible member having a structural strength between the photovoltaic element and the back face member. A solar cell-bearing roof and a solar cell power generation system in which the solar cell module is used are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayako Komori, Toshihiko Mimura, Masahiro Mori, Yuji Inoue, Satoru Shiomi, Yoshitaka Nagao, Makoto Sasaoka, Hidehisa Makita, Shigenori Itoyama
  • Patent number: 6331671
    Abstract: An installation structure of a solar cell module array in which a plurality of solar cell module strings are arranged on a desired installation face is provided. The plurality of solar cell module strings have a plurality of solar cell modules. There is an inter solar cell module connection cable to electrically connect the plurality of solar cell modules, as well as a positive string cable and a negative string cable. A non-contacting means is provided such that no contact occurs between the positive string cable and the negative string cable or between the inter solar cell module connection cable and the positive string cable or/and the negative string cable. This solar cell module array installation structure excels in safety. That is, in the array installation structure, the positive and negative string cables are wired in a desirable state so that no electric short occurs between these two cables, even when a fire occurs in the vicinity of the installation face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidehisa Makita, Toshihiko Mimura, Masahiro Mori, Yuji Inoue, Satoru Shiomi, Ayako Komori, Yoshitaka Nagao, Makoto Sasaoka, Shigenori Itoyama
  • Patent number: 6323478
    Abstract: A solar panel roofing board and a general roofing board are electrically connected directly or indirectly via a clip, spring, vis, and so on. Further, a conductive member is provided between the roofing boards and a roof installation surface, and the roofing boards are connected to the conductive member. Accordingly, potentials of the roof configuring parts of a photovoltaic power generation roof using a solar panel roofing board become the same, thereby making it easy to ground them as well as to select a connection point to the ground. Further, a metal sheet roof provided for securing fire resistance is used to achieve the above object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuo Fujisaki, Satoru Shiomi, Makoto Sasaoka, Hidehisa Makita, Shigenori Itoyama
  • Patent number: 6307144
    Abstract: A solar cell module comprising one or more solar cells enclosed therein is characterized in that the solar cell module has a heat-sensitive circuit cut-off means or a heat-sensitive circuit cut-off means having a functionally divided structure comprising a heat-sensitive means and a circuit cut-off means, is disclosed. A solar cell array comprising a plurality of solar cell modules electrically connected with each other by means of an electric connection means is, characterized in that the solar cell array has a heat-sensitive circuit cut-off means or a heat-sensitive circuit cut-off means having a functionally divided structure comprising a heat-sensitive means and a circuit cut-off means, is also disclosed. A sunlight power generation apparatus comprises a solar cell array and at least an inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiko Mimura, Masahiro Mori, Yuji Inoue, Satoru Shiomi, Ayako Komori, Yoshitaka Nagao, Makoto Sasaoka, Hidehisa Makita, Shigenori Itoyama
  • Publication number: 20010027804
    Abstract: The present invention provides a building material with a solar cell having a solar cell unit fixed to a substrate, and an electrical conductive lead for leading output from the solar cell unit to the outside, wherein a jacket material of the electrical conductive lead is composed of at least one selected from the group consisting of polyethylene resins, polyamide resins, vinylidene fluoride resins, chloroprene rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, silicone resins. The prevent invention also provides a cladding assembly including the building material fixed to the backing material by a fixing member, and the electrical conductive lead arranged between the building material and the backing material to contact the backing material, for leading output from the solar cell unit to the outside, wherein the backing material contains any one of an asphalt resin, a vinyl chloride resin, a polystyrene resin, and a polyurethane resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: Justin J, Oliver
    Inventors: YUJI INOUE, ICHIRO KATAOKA, FUMITAKA TOYOMURA, SATORU SHIOMI, MAKOTO SASAOKA
  • Patent number: 6294724
    Abstract: There is disclosed a solar cell module comprising a solar cell element, a front surface member provided at the light receiving surface side of the solar cell element, and a back surface member provided at the back surface side of the solar cell element. The front surface member and the back surface member are adjoined in a releasable state. At least the front surface member and the solar cell element are in close contact or the front surface member is in close contact with a solid layer which is in close contact with the solar cell element. The solar cell element, the front surface member and the back surface member can be separated without leaving residue of any of the front surface member, the back surface member or the solid layer on the solar cell element. Thus, there is provided a solar cell module allowing for easy component separation and easy collection and classification, whereby recycling of each component, particularly of the solar cell element, is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Sasaoka, Kimitoshi Fukae, Satoru Shiomi, Hidehisa Makita, Shigenori Itoyama
  • Publication number: 20010008143
    Abstract: There is disclosed a photovoltaic power generating structure in which a solar cell module is arranged on a base member, wherein a closed space portion cut off from the air is provided between the base member and the solar cell module. Thus, there can be provided the photovoltaic power generating structure which can be easily constructed at a low installation cost, can maintain a good output as a photovoltaic power generating system, is excellent in environmental resistance, and can improve a fire-proof performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Inventors: MAKOTO SASAOKA, YUJI INOUE, SATORU SHIOMI, HIDEHISA MAKITA
  • Patent number: 6245987
    Abstract: By providing a non-contact means and/or a non-contact space between electric connecting members and an underlaying material and/or a substrate material and/or a rear material, the temporal degradation of a solar cell module can be prevented which is caused by a contact between the electric connecting members for the module and the underlaying material and/or the substrate material and/or the rear material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Shiomi, Kimitoshi Fukae, Yuji Inoue, Ichiro Kataoka, Fumitaka Toyomura, Makoto Sasaoka
  • Patent number: D442915
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Sasaoka
  • Patent number: D445088
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Sasaoka